Story:
A slice of life that did a remarkable job portraying how specific life choices molded people into who they become. They all didn’t start off as great or evil characters but because of the people they chose or the choices they made. I think the best part about this story was that it felt true to real world circumstances. The writers truly made you analyze every individual character and the choices they made. It wasn’t easy to just stamp good or bad on them because they didn’t make the choices because of ill intentions but because of human characteristics such as jealousy, sadness, etc. The storyline was cohesive and fluid and allowed us to understand where it went wrong or right for every character. Really a well written script!

Acting:
The actors in this drama did an exceptional job including the supporting cast members. There are 3 actors that were great and really showed their acting prowess - Xiao Zhan, Li Qin & Liu Ruilin. Xiao Zhan really impressed me with how much he improved and how well he was able to portray his character. The scenes where he was supposed to portray grief really hit hard. It wasn’t over the top but felt that he understood how his character would portray that specific emotion.

Would I Recommend:
Yes! I understand the time span of this drama might not be the most appealing and it even swayed me a little. I thought it would be a drama that I would come in for the male lead but not enjoy the story as much except for maybe certain parts. However, I was truly impressed by how much I enjoyed it and even rewatched episodes while waiting for new ones. So, if you could get past the 70s era than I think people can truly enjoy it because it really is a great slice of life drama with an incredibly written script.
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CompletedJuliet Godwin
20 people found this review helpful
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Overall10
Story10
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Music8.0
Rewatch Value9.5
Awesome

Im placing this drama with the level i placed some Cdrama classic faves like Nothing But Thirty (2020) and Go Ahead (2020).

Very relatable and educating. very good drama and it shows how time can change people.
Came for the Male Lead and stayed for the story.
too bad is coming to an end but i really enjoyed it. i rarely a movie person, this drama kept me captivated and comiong back for more. kudos to the actors and team that made this. My emotions are still raw because this drama was so relatable from high point to low point of each character.
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CompletedSnail that arrived
8 people found this review helpful
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Overall10
Story10
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Rewatch Value10
A fascinating tapestry of life

A masterful period drama that is well worth seeing even if that isn't your usual cup of tea (like in my case).

An excellent script about the life of one Xiao Chunsheng and people around him, starting from the turbulent times at the end of Cultural Revolution onwards, brought to life by incredible acting is the shortest way to sum up this drama. Something that is probably the biggest problem currently in Chinese entertainment - good writing - was annulled by the expert pen of Xu Bing, the scriptwriter of this drama and then flashed out by an excellent group of young actors, led by a masterful performance by Xiao Zhan.

Can the strongest friendships of our youthful days survive the trials and tribulations of adult life? At the most difficult times that no person should face, what are the choices one will make and why? Why do some stray off the moral path and why do some stuck to it? Are idealism and realism two incompatible ways of looking at life? Are our first loves, no matter how memorable, the ones that will last through the trials of adulthood?

Can a person stick to their original righteous intention and live their life through according to their core principles no matter what life keeps throwing at them?

All this and much more is answered and presented to us while the characters grow in front of our eyes, wondering the very authentic streets of Beijing in the 70s, suffer in war fields and finally live their adult lives, changed by the harsh realities of life itself from the youth they once were. They are all distinct characters, fully realised and their actions are always understandable. The viewer may hate some of them but will always know the why. There is no excessive or unreasonable emotion. All scenes are there for a reason and help tightly weave this fascinating story that will keep you glued to the screen.

Is it a perfect drama? No, there is no such thing as perfection and there are always things one can nitpcik but this one, like Xiao Chunsheng himself, strives to get there, sticks throughout to what it set out to do from the start and ultimately succeeds in delivering. It does not get any closer to perfect than that. You will not be sorry if you give it a chance.Read More